Deferment Options
Bursar's Office
Table 1-5 Deferments for Federal Perkins and National Direct Loans
| Borrower is eligible to defer repayment: | National Direct Loan made before 10/1/80 | National Direct Loan made on or after 10/1/80 but before 7/1/93 | Perkins Loan made before 7/1/93 | Federal Perkins and Direct Loans made on or after 7/1/93 |
| While enrolled at least half-time (medical internship/residency excluded) | Yes (1) | Yes* | Yes* | Yes*(2) |
| While seeking and unable to find full-time employment | No | No | No | Yes* Up to 3 years |
| While experiencing periods of economic hardship | No | No | No | Yes* Up to 3 years |
| While engaged in service that qualifies for cancellation | No | No | No | Yes* |
| While serving in an eligible internship/ residency | No | Yes* Up to 2 years |
Yes* Up to 2 years |
No |
| While a member of U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard | Yes Up to 3 years |
Yes* Up to 3 years |
Yes* Up to 3 years |
No |
| While a Peace Corps volunteer or Vista volunteer | Yes Up to 3 years |
Yes* Up to 3 years |
Yes* Up to 3 years |
No |
| While a full-time volunteer for a tax-exempt organization in service comparable to Peace Corps or Vista | No | Yes* Up to 3 years |
Yes* Up to 3 years |
No |
| While an officer in the Commissioned Corps of U.S. Public Health Service | No | Yes* Up to 3 years |
Yes* Up to 3 years |
No |
| While temporarily totally disabled or unable to attend school or work because caring for temporarily totally disabled spouse/dependent | No | Yes* (3) Up to 3 years |
Yes* (4) Up to 3 years |
No |
| While on full-time duty as a member of the NOAA Corps | No | No | Yes* Up to 3 years |
No |
| While a mother of preschool-age children and starting or returning to work at salary no more that $1 above minimum hourly wage | No | No | Yes* Up to 3 years |
No |
| During period of hardship to the borrower, (prolonged illness or unemployment)** | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| During forbearance, if the borrower's Title IV loan repayment obligations equals or exceeds 20% of borrower's gross income or borrower qualifies for other acceptable reasons ** | Yes | Yes | Yes | No. |
Notes:
- Defense Loans made before October 1, 1980, allow deferments of up to 3 years for students enrolled less than half- time
- Includes graduate fellowship, fellowship-supported study, and approved rehabilitation programs.
- Spouse only.
- Spouse or other dependent.
*This deferment is followed by a six-month grace period before repayment begins; during the grace period, principal need not be paid and interest does not accrue.
**Principal may be deferred, but interest continues to accrue